Napier CBD shops respond to plans for major shopping centre with 30-plus stores: ‘Would kill us’
Napier CBD shop owners have concerns after plans were revealed for a huge shopping centre on the fringe of the city that will boast 30 to 40 shops.
Some shop owners in the city centre say the new development could “kill us” unless the CBD improves its parking and retains a clear point of difference.
Mana Ahuriri and partners TW Property revealed last week a plan to develop a large chunk of land off Prebensen Drive into a sprawling retail destination.
It will be built on the other side of Prebensen Drive from major retailers Kmart, Mitre 10, Chemist Warehouse, and JB Hi-Fi.
TW Property has since confirmed that, when completed, it will boast 30 to 40 shops across about 70,000sq m of retail space, complemented by 2000 free car parks.
It will take years to deliver across three stages, with the first stage anticipated for completion in 2028.
TW Property confirmed it would not be a mall as such because most of the shops won’t be interconnected.
The land is zoned “large format retail” meaning minimum shop sizes of 500sq m.
As such, the centre will feature mainly national brands and large-scale stores, rather than smaller shops or boutique brands.
The zoning also allows for cafes and fast-food restaurants, which are part of the plans.
Engagement with prospective tenants is underway, although it is too early to say which retailers and fast-food joints will go in.
TW Property commercial director Terry May said he was of the view the project wouldn’t take stores out of Emerson St, in central Napier, given the restrictions for large retail.
It plans to lodge its first resource consent applications for the project, through Napier City Council, in the coming weeks.
‘Would seriously kill this area’
Maree Cooper, owner of Emerson St shop Handmade in the Bay,said she did not believe Napier had the population to cater for both shopping precincts.
She said the key to survival for Napier CBD shops would be having a point of difference, such as plenty of boutique shops.
She said the CBD was more of an experience, complemented by its art deco buildings.
“It has to be completely different.”
She said if the CBD and the new shopping precinct were directly competing, then “it would kill us”.
She said offering free parking in the CBD after 3pm on weekdays would help shops. It is currently free after 6pm on weekdays.
That would mean parents can pop into town after school pick-up, and that initiative had helped shops in parts of Tauranga city centre, where she used to work, she claimed.
Other shop owners Hawke’s Bay Today spoke to supported the parking idea.
Vinci’s Pizza owner Vincent Michaelsen said he did not like big-box shopping centres, as they felt rather heartless, but could see the appeal and convenience.
“You can’t deny that appears to be what the population wants.
“So, in that sense, it’s good that Napier is getting a development,” he said.
“I think the bigger concern will be the medium-box-sized stores.
“Businesses, I think, that could be in the CBD should be in the CBD.
“For example, it will be bad news for the CBD if, you know, Postie Plus, Kathmandu, Macpac, the likes of those sorts of stores, move on.”
He said Vinci’s Pizza offered its customers “a genuine, authentic sense of hospitality and vibrancy”, which was not available at a big-box shopping centre.
He said there would always be a market for that.
“But, naturally, when you take away the shopping [options] you definitely dwindle down the market of the CBD.”
Until recently, Michaelsen was the chairman of Napier City Business Inc, and said the council could have done better at notifying businesses of plans for the city’s retail offering.
Part of the land to be developed, 58 Severn St, was previously zoned main industrial and has been rezoned “large format retail” in Napier City Council’s new District Plan.
Giftware and Engravers owner Andrew Glenny said parking remained a big issue for the city centre, particularly given the new development would have plenty of free parking.
In his view, just having a point of difference was not enough to keep people coming into the CBD to shop.
“Really, it’s more parking spaces,” he said.
“It doesn’t have to be free parking, just more parking.
“It’s accessibility. There is not enough around here.
“For me, that is the main thing. When you look out there with Kmart and Mitre 10, they have a huge amount of car parks.”
If there was an exodus of major stores from the CBD moving to the new precinct, then “I think that would seriously kill this area”.
Adore Collection, on Emerson St, co-owner Steve Holyer said shopping in Napier CBD was an experience, and a different offering than a large-scale shopping centre.
He said he told his staff ahead of tourists or visitors arriving: “We are not a souvenir shop, we are part of their holiday, so deliver”.
He said the CBD needed to be clear on what it was offering customers and visitors, as visiting shops was just one reason people came into the city centre.
“I think it is a good opportunity for the CBD in terms of what our role is in the community going forward.”
He said Hamilton, for example, had the likes of The Base shopping centre, the centre city, and Chartwell shopping centre.
He said, in his view, they were all competing with each other with similar offerings, and needed more differentiation.
He said he would like to see more collaboration between the council and shop owners to form a clear vision for the CBD, and to keep shop owners better informed.
Napier Mayor Richard McGrath said the CBD had mixed parking options, with a focus on people coming and going.
“New Zealand is in a cost of living crisis, but if people wanted to see their CBDs thrive, they need to change their shopping habits and stop buying online,” McGrath said.
He said the council had received nothing official from developers and would work within the rules set out in the District Plan and the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Napier City Business general manager Pip Thompson said she believed there were enough parks in the CBD.
“People just have to park a little bit further away and walk to where they need to get to.”
She said that rather than focus on parking, Napier’s CBD needed to adapt to changing shopping habits and work together to attract people.
“I see it as a positive for Hawke’s Bay, Napier and the CBD. It’s a really good chance for us to look at what’s going to make us look a little different.”
She said the CBD had advantages the new shopping centre couldn’t offer, including its beautiful Art Deco buildings and seaside location, where people could enjoy food by the water.